Ear-protector



G. .|.THEIS.

AEAR PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED NOV. I3. 1918.

* 1,312,493. Paented Aug. 5,1919.

@MCM/maa GEORG-E J. THEIS, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS. j

EAR-PROTECTOR.

Application led November 13, 1918.

To all whom t may concern j Be it known that I, GEORGE J. THEIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ear-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ear protectors, the object being to provide a device of this character especially adapted to protect the ears from noises, such as the discharge of cannon or other loud noises likely to injure the ear drums or to produce deafness.

Another object is the provision of a protector which may be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the ears and which may be conveniently carried for use.

A further object is the provision of a device of the above character, which is simple in construction, enabling it to be manufactured at a nominal cost.

With the above and `other objects in View, the invention includes a cup shaped member, the walls of which are insulated to prevent the passage of sound therethrough, the walls being preferably formed with air spaces, which are closed at one end by an annulus of compressible material, which is adapted to surround the ear and bear against the head of the wearer, while a packing or filling within the cup shaped member serves to further deaden sounds.

The invention also includes the following novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1n the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing the invention in use;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the protectors;

Fig. 3 isa sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the protector comprises a substantially cup shaped member 10, formed of some stiff light material, such as card board and the like. Nested within the member 10 and spaced therefrom through the medium of spacing elements 11, is a similarly shaped member 12, while nested within the member 12 is a like member 1B, which is also spaced from the member l2 through the medium of spas Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919..

Serial N0 262,333.

ing elements 14, similar to the elements 11.

This provides air spaces within the walls of the protector proper, so that the said wallsareinsulated against the passage of sound.

The edges of each of the cup shaped members surrounding the open portion thereof, are iush and an annulus 15 of compressible material, such as felt or the like is secured to these edges in a manner to overlap and close the open end of the air passages or spaces formed by the nesting of the members 10, 12 and 13, the air passages or spaces being indicated at 16.

The interior of the innermost cup shaped member 13 is filled with a suitable compressible packing, such as absorbent cotton and when the protector is placed upon the ear with the annulus 15 surrounding the ear and bearing against the side of the head, the packing which is indicated at 17, will bear against the ear and deaden the sound, while the said annulus 15 will act to prevent the passage of sound between the edge of the protector and the head of the wearer.

Various means may be employed for holding the protectors upon the ears, the means shown including tapes 18 which are adapted to be tied over the head of the'wearer and tapes 19 to be tied beneath the chin, these tapes being secured to the protector by any suitable or desired means. By these means the protectors may be quickly adjusted to the ears or removed therefrom and may be conveniently carried about. It is of course obvious that other means may be substituted `for those shown, for example a spring band having a protector secured to each end thereof.

If desired a cover 20 may be provided for the open end of the protector, so as to prevent dirt or other extraneous matter from entering the protector and being transferred to the ear of the wearer.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is reserved to make such changes as will properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is 1. An ear protector comprising a substantially cup shaped member adapted to receive the ear of the wearer, means for insulating the walls of said member and a compressible annulus surrounding the open end ofthe cup shaped member and extending inward to provide a flange engageable around the ear of the wearer.

2. An ear protector comprising a substantially cup shaped member adapted to'recei've the ear of the wearer, the walls o f said membe'rbeing relatively thick and hollow t'o provide sound insulated means, and a compressible filling` within said member.

3. An ear protector Comprising a substantially cup shaped member adapted to receive 'the earof the wearer, air spaces `formed in the walls of said lmember to insulate 'said walls against the passage of sound and a compressible annulus surrounding the open end of the cup shaped member.

,4. An ear protector comprising a plurality of nested cup shaped members, means for spacing the Walls of the members apart to provide ear spaces and a compressible annulus surrounding the open ends of the cup shaped members and closing the ends of the ear spaces. t

In testimony whereof IfaiX my signature.

GEORGE J. rHms.

Copies of this patent `may be obtained for jive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Latents,

' Washington, D. C. 

